A significant percentage of the initial Independent Residents of Camphill Ghent. Inc. retirement community in Chatham, NY did not renew their 2nd year annual contracts spring 2013 and have departed from the community because of dissatisfaction.  One resident quipped: “There ought to be a ‘lemon law’ for retirement communities.”  Here is some of the background about Camphill Ghent, Inc.:

 

CAMPHILL GHENT DATA

• Sponsored by Camphill Village USA in Copake, Columbia County, NY.

• 110 acres in Columbia County, New York.
• The facility has 31 living units made up of studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom "co-house" apartments and townhouses for Independent Residents. (10 townhomes and 21 co-housing apartments in 3 buildings.) 
• The Independent Resident housing units are offered as "Unliscensed Senior Housing".
• 29 bed “adult home” with private rooms which serves developmentally disabled seniors. This is a liscensed facility.

 

CAMPHILL GHENT TIMELINE

 

- 2009 - Awarded $9.6 million State of NY Healthcare Efficiency and Affordability Law (NY HEAL Grant).

 

- 2010 - May, Local approval.

 

           - December, Groundbreaking.

 

- 2011 - September / October, Project construction completed

 

- 2012 - January, Opening: residents moving in.

 

            - January, First technological problems arise: (telephone system still dropping 911 calls in 2013.)

 

            - May, Ribbon cutting.

 

            - June - August, construction / design / technology flaws result in outpouring of community anger.

 

            - November, CEO replaced.

 

- 2013 - January, Association of Independent Residents formally, unanimously adopted by Council of Independent Residents. Governance Committee includes representatives from all housing units.

 

           - February, first rent increase (6%) announced by Board President, Bill Vogt.

 

           - First dissatisfied resident move out.

 

           - March / April Jon Allen conducts assessment of dissatisfaction among Independent Residents at Camphill Ghent.

 

 

 

REPORT TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

     A summary of a report prepared for the Camphill Ghent Board of Directors was presented to the Council of Independent Residents monthly meeting in April by Jon Allen Principal of Performance Matters Consulting, Inc. of Clifton Park, NJ. Allen was asked to identify key issues behind the dissatisfaction of Independent Residents. In preparing the report, Allen interviewed the vast majority of Independent Residents and staflf.

 

 

 

     Allen reported that Independent Residents consider:  ”...that the quality of construction was poor and post-opening construction issues have not been followed up with promptly; many (Independent Residents) recognize that the project was constructed under a tight timeframe and they realize that it was with insufficient oversight by the sponsor -

 

• Design of heating/air conditioning system for apartments/townhouses
• Problems with heating/cooling systems in the main buildings
• Minor but persistent problems with kitchen appliances and some fixtures
• Telephone, internet and cable systems have been a major problem
• Lack of adequate fire alarm systems in the independent housing
• Lack of assessable parking is a consistent complaint”

 

     Among the biggest issues for Independent Residents were services promised as part of the $9.5 million State of New York HEAL Grant which Camphill Ghent, Inc. was awarded in 2010 but which Independent Residents complain have not been delivered. In addition, what was promoted as the capacity to “Age In Place” at Camphill Ghent. During the admissions process, “incorrect information (was) given out on the ability to access assisted living services based upon admissions criteria.” 

 

     In addition, Independent Residents also informed Allen that “it appears the admissions process did not fully disclose what type of community this (Camphill Ghent) would be and the degree of influence from the sponsor (Camphill Village USA) on cultural and spiritual life. …it was a struggle to express their (other) faith traditions.”  Camphill communities follow the Christian liturgical calendar and celebrate Christian festivals.

 

     “Independent Residents feel the Board has been unresponsive or slow to respond to their requests for meetings, feedback and regarding specific issues.” Allen reported.

 

     Despite the community-wide report of major construction problems and services not delivered for Independent Residents,  the Board refused to consider offering to refund departing dissatisfied residents any portion of the “buy-in” funds they had been required to deposit in order to initially join the community.

 

     “Camphill Ghent is not sustainable financially,” Board President Bill Vogt told Independent Residents in February 2013 when he announced a 6% rent increase, “our losses are projected to be so significant that not to raise rents would be irresponsible.”

 

     The  complete “Overview of Report for Camphill Ghent on Community Building” follows this summary..